The Imp’s Mistake

As Anna slept beside the fire
An imp as black as soot
Came down the chimney in a bound,
And landed by her foot!

He looked at her black shining shoe,
A frown came on his face,
He thought it was a piece of coal
A-tumbled from its place!

And so he started tugging hard
To put it back again
Upon the fire, when Anna woke
And gave a cry of pain!

“You naughty little imp,” she cried,
“Just leave my foot alone!”
And in a trice the imp had jumped
And up the chimney flown!

So when you’re sitting by the fire,
It’s better, on the whole,
To keep awake, in case that imp
Should think your shoes are coal!